240 Blank Firing Pistols Seized At Washington Dulles Airport

DULLES, VA — Customs officers at Washington Dulles International Airport seized a shipment of blank firing pistols from Turkey on Friday that could be converted into handguns, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection release.

CBP officers first inspected the shipment of 240 blank firing pistols on April 29, that had arrived from Turkey via air cargo. On the manifest, the shipment was marked "sporting blank gun" and contained a total of 620 blank firing guns of various models. Officials held up the shipment and reached out to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which is responsible for regulating firearm importation.

ATF agents tested the pistols and determined the 240 Zoraki model M2906 pistols could be converted into firearms.

CBP then seized the 240 Zoraki pistols, which were in violation U.S. import laws, and related the remaining 380 blank firing guns. The seized pistols, which were destined for an address in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, had an appraised value of $19,000.

“Many communities continue to suffer under the siege of violent crimes often committed by armed and dangerous people, so keeping this shipment of easily converted firearms out of the hands of criminals is one way in which Customs and Border Protection can protect our families, friends and neighbors and help make our streets safer,” said Keith Fleming, acting director of field operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office, in a release.